Atun means tuna and Almadrabas is the type of trap net (shown on the charts as tunny nets) used along this short stretch of coast to trap tuna during a very short migration. We popped our noses into a visitors' centre in the marina (EU money probably) which showed this method of catching tuna. There is evidence of this technique as long ago as Phoenician times. They pride themselves in its sustainability because the mesh is 1m squared and lets through young and smaller fish.   Our charts made us wary of these nets because they come out a long way but the season is actually a short one.  Work starts in February to prepare and rig the massive nets which requires 500 permanent fishermen and 200 temporary help (so a serious industry for the area) to take them out in special wooden boats – no engines or bottoms to interfere with the deployment of the nets.  They have to be wooden because GRP wouldn’t take the wear and tear.  These are towed out by other boats which also carry the heavy anchors.  Our interest was alerted because the previous night we had taken a short cut through the fishing port and came across some huge fisherman’s anchors – hundreds of them.  Now we know that these anchors, 400-500 of them, are what hold the nets down over a large area.  Each anchor weighs approximately 400 kgs.  We went to take photos of the anchors and found the place really lively.  We could see that the anchors had only recently been lifted and here is a photo of some of the work going on with fishermen, some still wearing traditional straw hats.  The tackle is really heavy duty.  I mean the wires and ropes and stuff.  Not something a boat would want to run into.

We continued our short cut and came upon big sheds with people gathered in them so we went in and found a reverse auction going on for sardines that were just being delivered off the boats through the doors on the other side of the sheds.  Average price today was 29.80 euros but we couldn’t make out whether it was for a palette or a box.  People, mainly children, were going around with carrier bags.  It seems fair game to pick up anything that falls onto the floor.  You could eat for nothing – send the kids out every day and there’s your lunch.

Finding it hard to get weather forecasts today that don’t contradict each other.  We wanted to leave today 21 July but the Levant is still blowing.  The marina print outs don’t look that promising for tomorrow either.  I rang Tarifa MRCC (coastguards) and they gave a better forecast of return to westerly force 4 in about 6 hours time but still rough seas.   We will leave at first light 22 July.  Bill went to help a British registered boat which came in with a shredded genoa.  Promising!